Thursday, February 13, 2025
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
County BZA Permits Stay for Short-term Rental Property
The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday granted a stay so that a short-term rental at 2084 East Old Rushville Road, Shelbyville, can continue to operate while county officials draft an applicable ordinance. The approval will be in effect up to three months while the ordinance is in the approval process, and then the property owner will have one month to potentially apply for a variance or rezone depending on the language in the finalized ordinance.
The issue arose because the property can accommodate more than 16 guests, and there have been that many cars on the property at one time. The county sent a violation notice in December because, according to the existing ordinance, rentals in a residential zone district cannot be to more than three unrelated people. That notice came as a surprise to Karen Barlow, who owns the home along with her three children. When she purchased the house, which includes amenities such as an indoor pool, she said an attorney told her not to worry about any violations because the property is outside city limits.
Attorneys Jeremy Musgrave and Eric Glasco, with the Stephenson Rife firm, argued stopping rentals created an undue burden for Barlow. Glasco noted that the state legislature had passed a law saying local governments couldn’t prohibit short-term rentals in residential areas.
“You can put in restrictions, you can make (property owners) get variances, but you can’t have a prohibition,” Glasco said. “The only violation they’ve been noticed on is that they are doing temporary lodging in a (residential district), which is a prohibition.”
But nearby resident Curt Johnson said that the existing county ordinance applies, and county law does not permit stays for those violating ordinances while a new ordinance is drafted. “It says any new filing for any approval may not be acted upon until the alleged violation is resolved,” he said. He called that approach logical. “What is illogical is for this board to disregard the ordinance and turn a blind eye in hopes that maybe in the future, they might be compliant.”
Johnson said he was not asking the property owners to be punished, but rather for the board to find them in violation, and then withhold the penalty as long as they were in compliance with the ordinance moving forward.
The board instead gave permission for Barlow to continue to proceed with some 20 rentals currently slated for this year. Canceling those would have meant losing the 14 percent Airbnb fees and being banned from operating on the Airbnb and VRBO platforms moving forward, she said. The property hosted 46 rentals last year, with occupants staying a minimum of two nights and promising not to use the space for partying.
Board members Kevin Carson, Jim Douglas, Dave Klene and Terry Knudson all voted in favor of granting the stay. Planning director Desiree Calderella said discussions on the new ordinance will begin this week.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Zoning Appeals approved, 4-0, a request from Rupert’s Kids to increase the maximum number of beds at their re-entry house, 1402 S. Miller St., from 12 to 16. The facility provides supervised housing for those participating in a re-entry vocational training program. Most of the program participants are from Shelby County, with a few from neighboring counties, Rupert Boneham told the board. Rupert’s has been in Shelbyville 14 years and does not receive government funding, Boneham said. The approval came with a condition to ensure the property is screened to enclose the outdoor storage area. BZA members present were Vince Bradburn, Doug Cassidy, Chris Clark and James Garrett III.
A vehicle parking at First Financial Bank sideswiped a vehicle parked at an angle. The driver of the parked vehicle, who was inside the bank, said she had “parked at a weird angle in the stall,” the police report said.
A tire came off a vehicle traveling south on State Road 9 near the Morristown Road intersection. The tire struck another southbound vehicle. Police noted that two of the six wheel studs were broken and another stud was bent.
Registration for Blue River Soccer Association's Spring 2025 youth soccer season is open. Birth years from 2009 - 2022 are eligible to register and play this spring. The cost for the season is $80 and registration closes on February 21. The fields open for practice the week of March 24 and games are held mainly on Saturdays starting April 5 and ending on May 17. Games are played at the BRSA fields at Blue River Memorial Park, 725 Lee Blvd, Shelbyville. Register on the BRSA website, blueriversoccer.org.
HOOSIER NEWS: A bill to allow more freedom for high school athletes to transfer without eligibility restrictions passed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday in the Indiana General Assembly and will now go to the Senate for the further consideration. House Bill 1064, authored by Rep. Cory Criswell, R-Middletown, passed the full House by a vote of 67-25. The bill “removes language prohibiting certain students from enrolling into a school corporation primarily for athletic reasons.” Under Indiana High School Athletic Association rules, athletically motivated transfers have not been allowed. (IndyStar)
NATIONAL NEWS: The National Restaurant Association projects that the industry will reach $1.5 trillion in sales in 2025 and that employment in food service will reach 15.9 million. The industry as a whole is in a constant state of death and rebirth. As of last year, 4 in 10 restaurants were unprofitable and 53 percent of restaurant operators still had pandemic-related debt. The vast majority of restaurants are prioritizing increasing in-person visits, which tend to have way better margins compared to delivery. (QSR Magazine/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
February 1975, Part I
After losing their first 12 games, the SHS boys basketball team closed its regular season by winning four out of their last seven games. The team had recently switched to a new line-up, with John Hartnett joining Randy Coffey while Gary Abner moved to the forward position. Greg Babb and Dave Drake were also starting.
The all-male cooking class, taught by Mrs. Bodem, had made everything from yeast buns to barbequed hot dogs.
Liz English, Michelle Peduto and Susan Shisler were selected as SHS representatives to Hoosier Girls’ State. Candy Haltom, Jane Weintraut and Susannah Schreiner were the alternates.
Mrs. Agler’s Advanced Journalism Class was preparing to produce a cable TV program. Students pioneering the program were Mary Beth Hammond, Debbie Linville, Cheryl McCormick, Todd Glidden, John Hartnett, Margaret Richardson, Valerie Williamson and Jane Ball. There was no studio at the school. “Sometimes we tape with a background of snakes and flowers in the biology room, sometimes in the journalism room,” Mrs. Agler said. John Hartnett Sr. and Mark Risley provided guidance for the cable program.
Mr. Everett Fuller, SHS janitor, often played the harmonic while on breaks at school. Fuller had attended SHS in the late 1920s. He was a licensed minister for five years and had taught Sunday School for 25 years.
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2005: The Morristown Town Council presented a “Key to the Town” to David Hart, who had served the community in various capacities for many years. Hart and his wife Wilma had moved to Morristown from Pendleton in 1963 because his employer, the Indiana State Police, wanted him to live in the area.
1995: Twenty customers and seven employees were evacuated from Compton’s Cow Palace after the restaurant’s kitchen caught on fire. The restaurant, 318 N. Harrison St., would be closed while the kitchen was rebuilt, owner Dan Compton said.
The old Gwynneville school was destroyed by fire. Two apartments in the old school were destroyed.
1985: Five inches of snow fell and winds reached more than 30 miles per hour. Of the county’s 12 plow trucks, six were down. Rock-hard ice had broken the steel plows on five of them. Highway Superintendent Bob Clark said it took about six hours to weld a plow back together.
1975: A dedication ceremony was held for BRVTC’s rebuilt Health Services center. Among those present were Greg Steele, a consultant with the vocational division of the Indiana Department of Public Instruction; John Webb, Major Hospital Administrator; Marvin Copes, Center Director; Mrs. Pat Helbring, nursing instructor; and BRVTC board president Dale Herthel.
U.S. Congressman David Evans spoke to students in Tom Hession’s senior government class at SHS.
1965: “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” showed continuously during the day at The Strand. Adult tickets were $1.
1955: Juniors and seniors of all schools in Shelby County received chest x-rays courtesy of the Shelby County Tuberculosis Association.
Four Shelby County 4-H Club boys were chosen to attend the annual Junior State Corn Jamboree at Purdue University for having the highest 1954 corn yields in their respective townships. They were Joe Keffaber, Paul Hayes, Mike Hanahan and James Fischer.
1945: Three Indianapolis residents miraculously escaped death when the automobile in which they were traveling toward Shelbyville left State Highway 29 at Snail Creek, five miles north of Shelbyville, crashed into a bridge abutment and plunged downward 20 feet to the middle of an ice-fringed stream. The auto landed in water about a foot deep.
Pvt. Claude Francis Thurston had been listed as missing in action in Germany since January 23, the War Department announced. Pvt. Thurston, 31, was the son of Guy Otto Thurston of Hendricks Township. He had married Laura Douthit Thurston in 1937, and they lived at 1923 State Street. Thurston’s brother, Pvt. Emery Thurston, was serving in Belgium.
1935: A 21-year-old woman was Aurora, Ind., was in critical condition at Major Hospital after being hit by a car on State Road 29 just south of the Shelby-Marion county line and then run over by another vehicle. Both vehicles left the scene. Deputies said the woman might have been hitch-hiking. David Pfendler heard the sound of brakes in front of his house and started to dress quickly to help the woman when he heard the brakes of the second car, which carried the woman some 10 yards.
Librarian Bertha Bowlby had operated the public library on 50 percent of the 1930 budget for four years. New book purchases had decreased from over 1,000 in 1929 to 100 in 1934. Bowlby and assistant Ethel Thralls had continued to operate the library by themselves six days a week, including three evenings a week.
1925: Gasoline prices increased for the fourth time in six weeks, to 24 cents a gallon (approximately $4.38 in today’s money).
Sheriff George Nigh and his deputy, Joe Kirk, went to Norristown to investigate whether Thomas VanGordon was hosting parties featuring alcohol. VanGordon was not at home when officers arrived, but he drove up shortly thereafter. He had been drinking whisky in the car and was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
1915: Local banks closed at 11 a.m. for the funeral of John Messick.
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
Clarence Wilbur Sorrells, 90, of Shelbyville, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Major Health Partners in Shelbyville. He was born on January 6, 1935, in Indianapolis, the son of Clarence B. and Josie Bell (Hope) Sorrells. On August 9, 1963, he married Georganna (Canady) Sorrells, and she preceded him in death on July 18, 1993.
Clarence is survived by his sons, John Sorrells and wife, Brenda, and Joe Sorrells of Shelbyville; daughter, Kathi Clifton and husband, Dan; brothers, Benny Sorrells and Jerry Sorrells; grandchildren, Crystal, Ryan, Heather, Rob, John, Joshua and Lindsey; and several great and great-great-grandchildren. In addition to Georganna, Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Michael Sorrells.
Clarence graduated from Fishers High School in 1953. He was a member of the Baptist Church in South Hills, Kentucky. Living most of his life in Indianapolis, he worked for Citizens Gas, retiring in 1993 with 36 years of service. After retiring at the age of 55, he spent the next 30 years fishing. He was a member of Eagles Aerie Lodge No. 766.
Visitation will be from 3 to 4 p.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 S. 17th St., Columbus, Indiana, 47401. Online condolences may be shared with Clarence’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Mary Jo Spurgin, 64, of Shelbyville, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025. She was born December 19, 1960 in LaFanette, Alabama to Charles Crowder and Joanne (Mitchell) Riley.
Mary had a love for the outdoors and pets. She especially loved kayaking on Sugar Creek or wherever her adventures took her. She cherished all the time spent together and memories made with her close friends and family.
She married Kevin Mark Spurgin, Sr. on October 10, 1996 and they shared 29 loving years of marriage. She is survived by her step-daughter, Shanon Jackson; her grandson, Clayton Mark Spurgin Surber; her sister, Marcheta (husband, Ron) Crouch; her niece, Amy (husband, Larry) Brandt and nephew, Brian (wife, Amanda) Crouch. She was preceded in death by her parents and her step-son, Mark Spurgin.
Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Mary’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.